Apparatus to assist in the art of swimming



April 28, 1931. R. e. COLE APPARATUS TO ASSIST IN THE ART OF SWIMMING Filed 0013'. 4, 1929 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 STATES.

UNITE RICHARD GEORGE 001213.01 CANTERBURY, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA APPARATUS TO ASSIST IN an Aaron swnumne Application filed. October 4, 1929, Serial No. s9'7,24s',jan a in Australia m ny, 1929.

This invention has reference to apparatus to assist in the art of swimming and has been devised with the object of providing means whereby declination of the body will 5 be prevented, the apparatus being so fitted to the wearer as will maintain it in a state of stable equilibrium.

The basic principle embodied in my invention consists in the provision of an inflated member which when fitted to the user will occupy a position on the opposite side of the centre of gravity tothat of the lungs.

Apparatus for the purposes herein indicated comprise broadly an inflatable member adapted for strapping or otherwise attaching to the body said member when in position occupying a position about the waist line and extending downwardly be tween the legs to provide an inflated portion at the back and front portions of the lower trunk.

In order to more readily understand the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 illustrates unfastened apparatus constructed according tomy invention.

Figure 2 shows the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, in a fastened condition.

Figure 3 is a view showing the device fitted to a swimmer doing breast stroke.

Figure 4 is a view showing the invention applied to a swimmer doing the back stroke.

Figures 5 and 6 are views in front elevation and side elevation respectively showing how wearer maintains the head above water.

The apparatus in the preferred embodiment of the invention shown by the drawings, includes inflatable pouches 1, 1, adapted to be inflated by air from the lungs, one of said pouches as here shown being provided with an inflating valve A which may be of any well known construction. The pouches are connected by a relatively narrow connecting portion 2, adapted to be inserted in the crotch of the users body.

The outer ends of the pouches collectively form a belt portion adapted toembrace a swimmers waist, and are provided with fastening means such as straps C and buckles D, whereby said belt portion may be con-'; tracted on the waist. The pouches l have inner sides which are conformable to anterior and posterior surfaces of the users body below the waist line, and outer sides 5.5.. adapted to be bulged outwardly by'internal a r pressure. The longitudinal edges ofthe pouches are shaped to provide leg-receiving openings 3, between the 'comiecting portion 2 and the 0:

belt portion.

When the apparatus inflated and in place, it ,is adapted to compensate for the density of the hips which is the controlling factor inzflotation. j 5.

The construction is such that when the device is semi-inflatedit will adjust the body toa position of horizontal-flotation both on 'the'chest or on the back, Figs. 3 and 4.

As regards affecting the degree of flota tion of thebody the device allows the body to assert its degree of buoyancy by virtue of the fact that the tendency of'the hips to sink causes a pressure on the lower pouch which deflates it and inflates the upper .5. pouch. In this .waythe body asserts its own degree of buoyancy before calling on the device to add the'ne'cessary buoyancy above the body to-exactly adjust the horizontal flotation. 7

When approaching the vertical position of floating the whole of the buoyance'of the device (being now submerged) will allow the wearer to maintain the whole'of'the' head above water. without the application .85;

of physical effort, Figs. 5 and 6. Thereis an air-connecting tube E, preferably of rubber, between the two pouches, the said tube-- extendingbetween the outer portions of the pouches. severed, but in realitythe tube joins the two pouches at their outer ends, as best shown" by Figure 2, allowing the air to pass freely from thetop of one pouch to the top of the other when'floating vertically. Q5 The tube E constitutes a suitable embodiment of means for conducting air from either pouch to the other to provide a greater volume of air in the highest pouch when the body is substantially horizontal, as 199 'In Figure l the tube' E is shown shown by Figures '3 and 4, gactically all of the air from the lower pou being transferred to the upper pouch. On assuming the vertical position the air approaches the tops of pouches equally distributed in each pouch and centred around the centre of gravity of the body. XX represents the draught line in each of the cases. I i

It is claimed that the device will make drowning practically impossible for a person who adopts it. It will also make the v persons that sink in unseaworthy (that is water) seaworthy.

The device when fitted will permit increased speed' through the water. Being compact when deflated it can easily be fitted into the pocket of a coat. I

It is invaluable for all swimmers and nonswimmers when perfecting strokes or learning to swim. I

Iclaim: 1 p p I An inflatable swimming trunk adapted to bear only on the portion ofa swimmers bodybetween the waist and the lower por tiOns ofthe thighs, said trunk comprising two inflatable pouch members, and aflexib-le strap member connecting the pouch members, said pouch members having inner edges joined to the strap member, outer edges, and intermediate edges, the outer edges being adapted to extend about and closely fit the wearers waist, while the intermediate edges and the strap member edges are adapted; to extend about and closely fitthe upper thigh portions, the pouch members having flexible inner sides adapted to conform closely to anterior and posterior portions of the body, and flexible outer sides coextensive with the inner sides and presenting convex external surfaces when the pouches are inflated, means being provided forgsecuring the trunk to the body, inflating the pouch members, and permitting transference of air from either pouch member to the other, the form and arrangement being such that when the trunk is secured,- and the pouch members are inflated, airis confined only on the upper portions of the thighs and below the waist, the confined air being distributed at:

opposite sides ofthe body when the latter is upright, and confined mainly on the upper side of the body when .the latter is in swimmi'ng position, and facing either upward or downward, progressive swimming being facilitated by therlocation and the convex lfsorm of the outer sides of the pouch memers. o In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature to this specification. Q N

' RICHARD GEORGE COLE; Y 

